DIAMOND JUBILEE OF WELLINGTON.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2197, 9 July 1914, Page 8

DIAMOND JUBILEE OF WELLINGTON.

ANNIVERSARY TO BE FITTINGLY

observed

MEMORIAL TO PIONEER

SETTLERS

Wellington's diamond jubilee happens next- year, and on Anniversary' Week (commencing January 20) it is proposed' to hold a. big demonstration in Wellington. In connection with this event, the {W Zealand/ Natives' Association is joining forces with the (Early. Settlers',: Association, and yesterdaya joint '.deputation ■ waited on the-executive .committee of the Citizens.' Carnival Association, seeking its co-operation in; tho : proposed- celebrations, which -all cerned hope will be a .good deal- more pretentious, than the jubilee' celobra- ; tions which' marked-the fiftieth anniversary of' Wellington as a white'man's settlement. : -.'.■''•■'-.

~ ■ Tll S r -? Ion - J- E ; Jenkinson reminded the Mayor/that his society .'had approached him some ■timo'ago with a view to combining in observing the' important event. The. suggestion was to hold a large carnival' on, January 21;: 22; and ii; , and , m connection " therewith they had .the co-operation of the. New. Zealand Natives 7 ' Association (represented *<!«•« UJ' the secretary, Mf: Charts M Intyro).': : He thought': that a representative Citizens'; Committee should'be set/Tip v to make all the" necessary pjrangeme'nts, and work uo interest in tho ovent well: before its due date.,- He. reminded the committee.;' that? this would probably.b*o the last occasion on which many of the old o'ri£inal settlors would be;- amongst them, and he wa> sure that : all would delight iii honouring them.-..'■"•'■: . ; - ,' ;

.Mr- John Smith supported Mr. :Jenkinson. ..; He: thought.:that they 'should try-and: pay a tribute to the old- stockit ; been'-; very r.: g'dbd-y v stock— lii.the way of a memorial.' ■-■■ Heunderstood that 'the., "Natives'' Association hadj gone as far as'{o,have, plans prepared for-a memorial building for social ■purposes,:'- That; however, was 'a- matter: for'the council to .decide, -If some-" tlung: of the sort' were: done,'.it would 1 - help, to remove the stigma that-Wei-: •migton vested under, in hot-having, in, the- j>ast,:;-.dpiie all perhaps! that they might have done "an this connection,'. ■ . Mr. : ,M'lntyre.!(secretary '--oi tJio Natives Association) presented rough plansof■• a, building, and explained, that it would not only be a meeting place:for the-early -settlers, but' one for-- their: childrenv.. and). grandchildren:'..'-•:' It was prpposqd■ to have ■ tablets -placed in' the foyer.ito ;the. ,memofv-> of' : the:first-four ship's-;to' arrive' in^'Wellington,, list-.of their'passengers'.--The'-proposed-building-would: be [a, brick?'structure ;of- : two stories, whiclrwpuldinclud.e.(i:sb.cial : hall. and. billiard-room.-and offices.on tho -ground- .floor,,Mvithia::largo;:'.assembly rppm,on. the first floor.:x'V! ; - : '--~: ..:''

>' In reply toa.question astothe'eost; Mr. .M'lntyre stated::that-tho laud '(in] Majbribaiiks Street) and building would cost: about: £7000. ; . -•:■' •/:: v".- '.-.-. ..:■'- ;v : ; -

~:The proposition found the-Mayor.sym-pathetic, and he said lie. did not think he. would' bp doing-his ;duty as. Mayor if lie. did not call a public meeting tlier tlho:;iobjects- J i of.'!tho ■':deputation; Every 'year was :a : milestone,: but; next, year was one that would'stand.out .prominently—even more prominently than, .thpone which marked;tlie. fiftieth anni--,yersary,V:Ho'Mvas afraid- that the I 'days: werd" closing; in /very:, quickly, for': that' ever-decreasing; remnant ;'of. '. the settlers who had come. out. in 1840. -They from time to? tiniccelebrated :the of -battles and .other events;;.but'what" event of greater national import could , they celebrate; than -that of. thd\ estabr ;lishment-/of the .city,--and -district.-they resided in? :;Ho riaid a: fitting tribute :to the- sacrifice the old people had. made in coming-out:to New: Zealand in the early days,;and in doing,so quoted -the instan'co of-, his owii'parents,-,.who .had -come out,to New Zealand:knowing that their boys would havo a-better chance to succeed and prosper in fhp,new laud:' Then wlutt must jt have':been .for thosewho ,came 30, years. before. that? .:_ It; ■would be his duty_ to lay 1 the-proposition of • co-operation, with tho gentlemen : present in making the Diamond Jubilee an event to remember, -not:forgetting the matter of a fitting memorial to the.eariy, settlers. ".- ":'. "-.'H'".. ': ':-,'.'.•.